The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-01-28
no CONTROL RAILROADS.

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to Al nays. The Minnesota delegation
with the exception of Congressman Gil
lillian, supported the bill, and in so do
ing certainly conformed their actions to
the wishes of their constituency.
After the unanimity with which this
measure has passed both branches of
Congress it is no way likely that Presi-
dent Cleveland will presume to veto it.
If he does the constitutional. two thirds
majority necessary to pass il over his
head is more than ready to defy his OPP
position.
The bill as it passed both houses is of
such great importance to the people as
to make the following outline of its pro-
visions of interest To all;
The first section applies the provisions
of this act to any common carrier en-
gagged in the transportation of passen-
gers wholly by railroad, or partly by
railroad and partly by water, when both
are used under common control, man
agement or arrangement, through more
than one state or territory or from any
place i'm the United States TO an adjacent
country. 1t defines the term t'iall-
road" to include all bridges and ferries
used or operated by any railway. All
charges made for any service rendered
in the transportation of passengers or
property shall be reasonable and Just;
and every unjust and unreasonable
charge for such service is prohibited and
declared TO be unlawful.
Section makes IL unlawful for any com
mon carrier subject to the provisions of
this act to charge, demand, collect or re-
ceive, directly or indirectly, from any
person or persons, a greater
or less compensation for any service
rendered in the transportation of pas.
sengers or property than it charges, de-
mands, collects or receives from any
other person or persons for doing for
him or them o like and contemporaries
Gus service in the TRANSPORTATION of a
like kind of traffic under substantially
similar circumstances and conditions.
Section 3 makes IL unlawful for any
common carrier subject to the provisions
of this act TO make or give any undue or
unreasonable preference or advantage
to any particular person, company, firm,
| corporation or locality, or any particu-
lar description of traffic. Every COM
mon carrier subject to the provisions of
this act shall, according to Its respective
| powers, afford al reasonable, proper and
equal facilities for the interchange of
traffic between its respective lines, and
for receiving, forwarding and delivering
of passengers and property to and from
its several lines and those connecting
Herewith, and shall not discriminate In
its charges between such connecting
| lines.
Sec. 4. That it shall be unlawful for
any common carrier subject to the pro-
visions of this act to charge or receive
ony greater compensation in the aggre-
gate for the transportation of passengers
or OF like kind of property under SUBJ
stantially similar circumstances and con-
ditions for shorter than for longer
distance over, the same line in the same
direction, the shorter being included
within the longer distance; but this
shall not be construed as authorizing
any common carrier within the terms of
said act to charge and receive as great
compensation for a shorter as for long,
er distance; provided however, that up
on application TO the commission ap-
pointed under the provisions of this act,
such common carrier may in special ca
ses, after Investigation by the commits
sion, be authorized to charge less for
longer than for shorter distances for the
transportation of passengers or proper
ty; and the commission may from time
to time prescribe the extent to which
such designated common carrier may be
relieved from the operation of this Sec
ton of this act.
Sec. 8. That it shall be unlawful for
any common carrier, subject to the pro-
visions of this act, to enter into any con-
Il IL
any other common carrier or carriers
for the pooling of frelghts of different
and competing railroads, to divide be-
tween them the aggregate or net pro-
ceeds of the earnings of such roads or
any portions thereof; and in any case of
an agreement for pooling of freight as
aforesaid each day of It's continuance
shall be deemed a separate offence.
| Section q requires that within ninety
days from the passage of the act every
common carrier subject to its provisions
shall have printed, and kept for public
inspection, schedules showing rates,
fares and charges; and in addition to
requiring the railroads to give publicity
at all of the depots on their several
lines, it gives authority to the commits
ion, where it is proper and necessary,
to require them to give publicity to
their several roads. The rates, fares,
and charges shall not be raised except
after ten days of public notice, but they
may be reduced without previous no
tlce; the notice. however, shall be sim
ultaneous with the reduction itself.
Section makes 1t unlawful for any
common carrier to enter into any COM
blnation or agreement to prevent the
carriage OF Heights from being continu-
1 from ~, ,.looa Of a1 a. L.
place OF destination.
Section 8 declares that any common
I carrier violating the provisions of the act
shall be liable to the person or persons
injured thereby for the full amount OF
damage sustained in consequence of any
such violation, together with reasona-
BILE counsel or attorneys fee.
Section provides that persons claim
ing to have been inspired by the action
of common carriers may proceed for re.
covery of their damages either in the
courts of the United States or through
the commission herein provided for, but
not before both tribunals.
Section 10 makes it a penal offense to vi
olate any of the provisions of this act
and provides the maximum of fine
which may be imposed at the sum o.
IS, 900.
The next eleven sections provide fol
T commission to consist of five persons
whose term of Office shall be for six
years except for the first appointments
which are to be for one, two, three, four
: five and six years. The members of THU
, commission are to be appointed by the
president, by and with the advice anC
consent OF the senate. Their principal
Office shall be in Washington, but the,
NAV hold aessions in other nlaeas thar
n Washington, and a single member
of the commission may take testimony
anywhere, as may be directed by the
commission. These commissioners have
salaries of 81 800 each. The commission
has the power TO appoint secretary
with an annual salary of 50 500, and hal
the authority to employ and fix the
: compensation of such other employees a
it may find necessary to the proper per
Torrance of its duties, subject to the ap
proval of the secretary of the interior.
Section % provides that nothing con
: tanned in this act shall abridge tn,
r remedies now existing at common Law
or by statue.
Section % appropriates 100000 fo
the purpose OF. this act, for the fsca
, year ending June 80, 1883.
? Section "a provides that the provision
OF sections IL and Is of this act relatin,
to the appointment and organization o
the commission, shall take effect imme
diately, and the remaining provisions o
this act shall take effect sixty days ate
its passage.
A TEST vote on the high license bill
was had Wednesday on motion to re
fer the bill back TO the committee which
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